I’ve had the privilege of writing many insightful articles on branding and business topics for The Weekly Capital, covering a range of subjects including ‘The Misconceptions About Branding,’ ‘The Basics of Successful Branding,’ ‘Why Brands Matter,’ ‘Can Anything Be Branded?,’ ‘How to Choose the Right Logo for Your Business,’ ‘Amplifying Brands: The Power of the Right Brand Ambassador,’ ‘The Hospitality Culture of Ethiopia and Its Potential for Business Success,’ and ‘The Power of Personal Branding in Driving Success,’ among others. This time, I’m shifting the focus to digital banking and ATM applications with an article titled ‘Ethiopia’s Digital Banking Revolution and South Africa’s ATM Decline

Ethiopia is undergoing a significant transformation in its banking sector, driven by the rapid adoption of mobile phones and the rise of digital payment solutions. With more than 80 million mobile users and over 52 million subscribers to Tele Birr, Ethiopia’s mobile money service, the country is well on its way to becoming a digital-first economy. The “Digital Ethiopia 2025” initiative has already shown positive results, and preparations are underway for the next phase, “Digital Ethiopia 2030.” This rapid shift toward digital banking offers Ethiopian Banks an excellent opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional banking infrastructure, particularly physical services like branch banking and ATMs.

South Africa’s ATM Decline: A Global Lesson for Ethiopia

To understand how Ethiopia can navigate this transition, it’s useful to examine recent changes in South Africa. The country’s banking industry is witnessing a marked reduction in the number of ATMs. Major banks such as Absa, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank closed a combined total of 233 ATMs in the first half of 2024. While these closures reflect a global trend, Capitec Bank has taken a different approach by partnering with retail outlets to offer agency banking services for withdrawals and deposits. This demonstrates how banks can maintain service access without heavily relying on their own ATM networks.

The primary reason for this shift is the rise of mobile banking and digital payment systems. More South Africans are using smartphones to manage their finances, thus decreasing their dependence on ATMs. With mobile payments, digital wallets, and point-of-sale (POS) devices, customers can conduct transactions more easily and securely, making this a cost-effective solution for banks, as maintaining a large ATM network can be expensive. This information comes from The Guardian newspaper’s coverage of South Africa’s banking trends.

Lessons for Ethiopian Banks

In Ethiopia, banks are still heavily invested in deploying ATMs, especially in major cities. However, the trends observed in South Africa offer valuable lessons as Ethiopian banks move forward. The country’s increasing mobile penetration and the growing use of digital payment systems suggest that Ethiopian banks should reconsider their focus on ATMs, which are increasingly viewed as a hybrid solution—not fully digital.

While ATMs remain useful for cash withdrawals, they may hinder the transition to a fully digital banking system. In Ethiopia, ATMs are primarily used for withdrawing cash, which is becoming less necessary as digital solutions like mobile banking gain popularity. The demand for physical cash is dwindling, and digital payment tools such as QR codes, mobile wallets, and point-of-sale devices are already in use at many Ethiopian banks. These tools enable customers to make payments, transfer money, and manage their accounts using just a mobile phone. The growing adoption of services like Tele Birr clearly indicates that Ethiopians are ready for more digital banking options.

Strengthening Digital Banking

Banks in Ethiopia need to continue their efforts to strengthen digital banking services. While many banks already offer advanced services such as QR codes and mobile wallets, they should work on expanding these services to reach more customers, especially in rural areas. These tools are user-friendly and cost-effective, making them ideal for an increasingly digital society.

Mobile banking platforms should be further developed to ensure they are accessible, secure, and capable of offering a full range of banking services. The convenience of mobile-first banking means that more customers are likely to prefer digital solutions over traditional branch banking and ATM services. As mobile internet access improves and mobile phones become more affordable, the demand for physical banking infrastructure will continue to shrink.

Additionally, banks should focus on creating more seamless integrations with other services to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem. The widespread use of mobile wallets, integration of digital payment systems like QR codes, and collaborations with businesses to accept digital payments will ensure that customers can carry out all their financial transactions digitally, without needing to rely on cash or ATMs.

Reducing the Focus on ATMs

Significant number of Ethiopian banks are investing in importing and deploying ATMs in major cities and towns, which may not be the most cost-effective or sustainable long-term strategy. With the rise of mobile banking, the need for ATMs—especially those used mainly for cash withdrawal—is diminishing. While it is essential to have physical access points for customers who may still need to withdraw cash, Ethiopia’s banks should focus less on expanding ATM networks and more on developing digital solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the market.

One alternative to ATMs is agency banking, where banks can partner with local retailers to offer banking services such as cash deposits and withdrawals. This method could help banks reduce the high costs of maintaining a large ATM network while making banking services more accessible in rural areas where ATMs are often scarce. Agency banking has been successful in other countries and can play a key role in Ethiopia’s digital transformation.

Moreover, as Ethiopia’s digital financial ecosystem grows, the use of services like Tele Birr is expected to rise even further. This shift towards digital payments will naturally lead to a reduced reliance on cash, further decreasing the need for ATMs. Banks that focus on digital innovation and customer-centric mobile solutions will be better positioned to thrive in this new environment.

Encouraging a Cashless Society

Ethiopia is moving towards a digital-first economy, and the banking sector should continue to lead this transformation. Encouraging the widespread adoption of mobile payments and digital wallets will help reduce the dependency on physical cash and ATMs. The future of banking in Ethiopia lies in digital innovation—mobile banking platforms, digital wallets, QR code payments, and integration with other payment systems.

The more Ethiopia’s banks focus on digital solutions, the faster they can help create a truly cashless society. Through these efforts, Ethiopia can position itself as a leader in digital banking in Africa, providing a model for other countries to follow. By shifting focus from physical infrastructure like branch banking and ATMs to fully digital platforms, Ethiopian banks can provide better customer experiences, lower operational costs, and help the country’s economy move towards a more modern, efficient, and secure financial system.

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Aschalew Tamiru is the founder and CEO of HayaSebat Marketing and Branding PLC. With extensive experience in senior management roles across various companies, he has made significant contributions to the industry. Aschalew is also a producer and host of popular business radio and TV shows. He is the author of two books: Make a Difference with Customer Service and Denbegna Yikidem (in Amharic). A certified Management Consultant, he is passionate about empowering businesses and individuals to achieve success.